But there was hardly any muscle left—only bones, wrapped in a layer of skin. She was thin as a bamboo pole.
"Tomorrow, it'll be better. Everything will be better tomorrow. You have to hold on."
Akeibi nodded. "Don't worry, Father. Now that there's a glimmer of hope, I definitely won't resign myself to fate."
Akeibi had always been stubborn. She was never some quiet, demure girl; on the contrary, she had been an exceptionally cool and spirited young woman.
Unfortunately, illness had tortured her into this state.
But her will to live had been reignited. That strength was enough to sustain her until the moment hope arrived.
Sanzu Amado said a few more things before leaving the room and closing the door, not wanting to disturb Akeibi.
Still, every so often, he would secretly crack open the door to check on his daughter.
A parent's heart was truly pitiable. No parent wished to see their child like this while being utterly powerless to help.
"What use is all that research? In the end, I'm still useless!"
Early the next morning, Torikaze wandered around the courtyard. The morning sunlight could quickly wake a person up.
"Shouldn't there be some news by now? It's already been a month."
A month ago, Torikaze had searched the other world far and wide for Sanzu Amado's whereabouts. Yet after an entire month, there had been no news at all.
"Don't tell me Ōtsutsuki Isshiki really captured him? That'd be troublesome."
However, Torikaze seemed to have worried for nothing. Just as he finished muttering, a call came through on his phone.
"Hello, is this Lord Torikaze? I'm Sarutobi Hoshi, an Administrator of New City. Someone from the Rain Country in the other world has arrived here. He said the person you're looking for is already